Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1887-01-10
Against Interstate Commerce.

Washington special, 18: Ex-Governor
Sterling p. Morton, of Nebraska, while
in Washington, seems to be taking q
hand in the fight against the passage OF
the inter-state commerce bill. He gave
cut for publication tonight the follow
ing letter received by him from Fred
erick I. Brown, prominent New York
stock broker, and it givss an intelligent
idea Of the argument being used against
the bill:
81 have your favor Of the 8 inst. ask,
ing if consider the Interstate commerce
bill, as it comes from the conference
committee, favorable to the farmers and
planters of the country, west and south.
answer decidedly not, but consider it
wholly unfRyorable to those states that
are not already covered by railroads. As
you know railroad building in the
southern states was for years retarded by
the unsettled condition of trade and
labor, coupled with what northern
capitalists cali the politio risks. They
hesipted at putting money south of
Mason and Dixon's line, fearing adverse
Legislation in the different states. These
reasons carried the surplus money OF
the eastern and middle states into the
construction of railroads in
the west and northwest
With the overthrow of the carpet
bag legislatures and the restoration of
state governments to their rightful
holders, the land-owners' attention was
directed to the south as the most prom
ising field for railroad building, but up
to 1882 little had been projected beyond
the necessary connections building be.
tween the old roads. Since that time q
great impetus has been given to railroad
construction from Virginia to Texas, an
impetus that has quickened every indus
trial interest throughout these states
the building up of cities like Birming-
ham. in Alabama, the opening of coal
apd iron mines in Virginia, North Caro-.
lima and Tennessee, aud the covering OF
the northern part OF Texas with cattle
ranches. These states need and demand
railroad facilities far in advance of those
already attained and in the next ten
years will receive them il not interfered
with by unfriendly legislation in their
own states or at Washington. The
northern Mississippi states are similarly
placed. They need more railroads, bni
} with this bill passed at Washington moi
: one foot of rails will be laid, in. these
states unless absolutely necessary. Fol
the railroads already existing no more
favorable legislation can be asked thar
the passage OF the conference bill as j
came from the committee. It is
, guarantee against interference from nev
I.roads. You will understand that wha
, is known as 'paralleling railroad j
only done by capitalists who hope b.
J dividing the traffic of established( (old
I. roads TO sell out at large profit to th
3 Old roads stockholders, or by cuttinl
rates seriously for q year or two &
.. obtain recognition from the pools. Tn
bill will In effect stop all this. ca
( readily understand the Tote OF th
senators or representatives Of the norti
ern hither Mississippi states for th
bill. but the vote OF q southern or tranl
Mississippi congressman for it ought
: cuHsign him TO private life aud th
o wilderness Of his own farm"